March 2012 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

March Madness

March 30, 2012rjstreets

In the United States “March Madness”

is the spring college basketball tournament,

in Israel “March Madness” takes on a different meaning.

With the new threat of millions of outsiders

on a Global March to Jerusalem – the “GMJ,”

Israel is again cast as the aggressor in the Middle East.

Looking through March photos, I found this picture

taken last year as Muslim worshipers were going to pray.

These men were entering through the Jaffa Gate to the Old City.

There were threats of violence on that Friday,

but Muslim worshipers still had access to their mosque.

This is not the picture GMJ paints for the world.

Please let us not forget, in March of last year

the Fogel family were brutally murdered

and a Jerusalem bus bomber killed a woman.

In March ten years ago, the Park Hotel in Netanya was blown up,

30 people were kiled.

The Global March to Jerusalem

joins BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions)

and Israel Apartheid Week

as the newest anti-Israel publicity exploit.

The GMJ organizers must have not have seen what

was really happening in Jerusalem,

so I am sharing again:

This is Apartheid?

Israeli Apartheid? and More Israeli Apartheid?

It is time to stop the madness.

Malha Mall Rioters Drown out the Music

March 27, 2012rjstreets

Malha Mall in Jerusalem is a large shopping center, busy day and night.

Typical scenes like this one show no hint of apartheid.

Last week a group of Beitar football (soccer) fans made quite a scene

in Malha Mall that caught international attention.

In no way do I condone their rowdy and obnoxious behavior,

but sports fans have rioted in Canadian and US cities also.

Was the entire country condemned for their miserable behavior?

An Israeli diplomat in Rabat, Morocco had to be rescued from a mob

of tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

I did not hear of human rights activists writing essays against these events.

Once again, an isolated, repulsive incident has been blown out of proportion,

and has drowned out the other sounds coming from Jerusalem:

the sounds of a three-night music festival called “Sounds of the Old City.”

The city of Jerusalem offered free musical entertainment

to bring more visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Old City at night.

Throughout the Old City and Mamilla Mall,

there were also video art displays…

much better for a photo blog than music played in the dark.

It was easy to follow the lights and art

through the narrow alleyways of the Old City.

The Hurva Synagogue in the Rova, the Jewish Quarter, was lit up.

Musical performances were scheduled from 6-11:00pm;

sorry, I only got a program on the way out and missed the shows in the Rova.

Musicians performed inside the Cardo

and out, two of many dramatic backdrop locations.

Shows were also performed in the Christian and Muslim Quarters

and along many of the Old City streets.

Comfortable seats were impossible to find,

but the food for sale near Jaffa Gate was hard to miss.

The crowds grew larger as the night went on.

On the way home, this drum circle near Jaffa Gate caught my attention.

One boy got up and started to dance

to an audience which gathered to watch and included smiling Arab families.

The sounds of music from the Old City went unnoticed by the media,

drowned out by the noise of a few trouble makers.

There was no violence during the festival…so it is not news.

The “Sounds of the Old City” was happening in Jerusalem last week.

What did you hear?

Journeys to Jerusalem

March 21, 2012rjstreets

Spring is usually the perfect season for a trip to Israel.

However, this year 15,000 runners in the Jerusalem marathon events

ran in the cold and rain as they entered the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.

Marathon runners were not the only visitors to Jerusalem,

as tourists from all over the world have been coming in record numbers.

I met up with one tour group called The Land and Spirit Mission sponsored by

the Jewish Learning Institute, the educational arm of the Chabad movement.

Near Jaffa Gate, they were able to learn about the Tower of David

and cheer on the leaders of the 10 Kilometer race.

No matter the weather, visitors near the Kotel, Western Wall

want to pose and smile for photos.

As one of the rabbis with the tour group spoke,

some of the women climbed on chairs to see and hear.

From the United States and from around the world, 150 participants

came to experience and learn more about Judaism and Israel.

Rain, cold weather and grey skies could not dampen their spirits.

For some participants it was their first trip to Israel;

others had visited many times. Jerusalem is always changing,

every day there is something new to see and discover.

One stop on the tour of the Old City was Mamilla Mall,

once part of “no man’s land” during the years under Jordanian rule.

Now the new pedestrian shopping area has many restaurants

and is a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

It is quite a contrast to the old Arab shuk.

Going through the narrow streets of the Old City,

we found one of the most incredible views …and a bit of blue sky.

A few minutes later outside the entrance to the Hurva Synagogue,

while listening to the story of the restoration of the historic building,

it started to hail.

A perfect time to go inside to see the impressive sanctuary.

As women listened from above in the women’s section,

the Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch,

spoke to the group.

He began by praising the Chabad rabbis in the audience

and their organization for their important work around the world.

There is wisdom of the head, the rabbi told the group,

but the “Jewish people also have wisdom of the heart”.

In the cold rain and hail, it is heart, not the mind, that kept the runners going.

Throughout the centuries the longing for Jerusalem inspired many

to take the difficult journey to Jerusalem.

So how could a little bad weather possibly ruin a trip to Israel?

The Land and Spirit Mission was organized by Zev Jacobson

and his team at Israel Maven Tours.

Israel Maven, dedicated to providing a high-quality trip to Israel

for individuals, families, communities, and corporations,

ran a great program despite the lousy weather.

It was great fun to see some old friends and former neighbors,

even if it was hard to photograph them dressed for the weather conditons.

Hope to see you too in Jerusalem…soon.